Two Persimmons’ Sachiko Smith on the importance of asking questions, why functional works are as meaningful as objects of art, and why people should visit her little storeroom above Taylor’s Tobacconists
Hi Sachiko – you are doing a pop-up above Taylor’s Tobacconist’s in Bond Street for the Open Houses this year – sounds very intriguing! It is a very different milieu from the gallery space you occupied last year. Did it entail any special considerations when setting up the exhibition?
Hi Dee – the Bond Street venue is our permanent stockroom. Gallery 40, which we used last year, is a great venue but because it is a rented space, we only made a week-long show. With the Bond Street room, not only can we have our Open House for the full 4 weekends, but also we can accept visitors by appointment on other days. It is a bit tricky to enter the tobacco shop and walk up 2 flight of stairs. I take it positively in this way: Two Persimmons might not be everyone’s cup of tea, so it will have to be the destination for the right audience. People will have to make a little effort to visit this room.
Ohara Koichi’s tea and sake ware
You are showing a beautifully considered range of functional Japanese objects made by independent artists. Can you explain to us how you discover these, and what informs your selection? Also, did the physical specifics of the pop-up space in Bond Street have any bearing on your curatorial decisions?
As background, I need to mention that in Japan, there is a massive number of talented crafts people – or designer makers – in a contemporary sense – and a similarly massive market behind them, which has started drawing the attention of many people across the world. What I am doing is trying to introduce exquisite Japanese crafts to the UK, in my personal capacity.
I do not use very specific aesthetics or criteria for the selection of the artists. For many years, I researched and interviewed creators as a design journalist. Naturally, I tend to choose artists whose works radiate rich backstories, who I want to ask many questions, see the process of making their works and share this with other likeminded people. Probably I am still doing the same thing in a different way.
For example, Sanae Sugimoto’s artworks speak to me directly, touching my heart. It made me so happy when she proved to be very popular in the UK too.
Shimomoto Kazuho’s bamboo ladles are amazing works of art and show great intuition in using materials.
Our space is too small to exhibit large items. The pieces are mostly tableware and small-scale sculptures and artworks.
Two Persimmons’ Open House venue at Bond Street, upstairs of Taylor’s Tobacconists
In your gallery, practical utility wares and crafts sit alongside and occupy an equal position with graphic and sculptural artworks. Can you tell us how these relate to each other within your vision of functional art?
Nicely handcrafted items are not cheap, and should not be, even if they are functional items like brooms. They deserve to be cherished and paid for. I have visited many craftsmen who create beautiful works, and realized many of them use well-made brooms and nice wooden chairs, because they understand and appreciate how they are made. My vision is that well-made brooms and other functional works can play just as important a part in your living space as sculptures or paintings. They all complement each other and make your life whole.
Wooden Broom by Ewen Brown (Slow Made Goods)
I’m very curious to know where the name of your gallery comes from – does it have a specific meaning?
The name is meant to be something that is typically Japanese and iconic. Persimmons – also known as Sharon fruits – are strange and exotic fruits in Europe, yet they are so common and familiar in Japan. This gap seemed to mirror the one I saw for the handmade items that I love.
There is another story behind this name: “two persimmons” is actually short for “Villa Two Persimmons”(双柿舎). This is a beautiful villa in the coastal spa city of Atami, not far from Tokyo, and has been used by many writers as literary retreat. Now owned by Waseda University and open to the public, I encourage anyone to visit the villa if they get the chance.
Sugimoto Sanae “Swift Horse” limited edition giclee print
Two Persimmons is primarily an online gallery. This is a rare opportunity for people to see the work physically and up close. I was wondering if there was there something that makes Artists Open Houses particularly appealing for you as a platform for introducing your curated lifestyle items? And will you be exhibiting them elsewhere?
AOH was a total game changer for us. Although always based in Brighton, Two Persimmons has been online-only since 2019, and most of our customers were everywhere else. When we joined AOH for the first time in 2025, we were totally blown away that so many artists in town and other AOH exhibitors found and visited us. Brighton has such a nice artists community and they are very supportive.
Also because our Bond Street stockroom is upstairs above a tobacco shop, it is very important that we are in brochures. It is practically impossible to attract visitors otherwise!
Doorway to Two Persimmons Bond Street stockroom (Noren banner dyed by Miyairi Keita)
Brighton is a very long way from Japan! I am very interested to know how you came to be based here? Are any of your artists local?
We just happened to move to Brighton 10+ years ago. It is very open, attractive and international city I think. Starting from representing Japanese artists only, now we are broadening our reach to British artists and craftspeople in the same way. This May, we asked 3 Brighton based artists to join Two Persimmons: Sarah Lock (wood), Nicola Gillis (ceramics) and Hiroko Aono-Billson (ceramics). We also have other British artists’ works: Cherry Chung’s willow baskets and Ewen Brown’s wooden brushes. I think they go very well with other Japanese items that Two Persimmons already shows.
Sculptural vases by Kodomari Ryo
Do you have anything new in the store, or any favorurite products, that you think visitors will be particularly interested to see?
Yes we have plenty new items for this year’s May AOH festival. First of all, we have the latest collection of Kodomari Ryo’s functional pieces, as well as his sculptural vases. His pieces are something you are unlikely to see from anyone else – one and only. They easily connect to many people’s feelings. They are both primitive and modern at the same time, in a unique way.
We are also very glad to exhibit Inada Satoko’s original paintings for the first time. They are very special, with an intricate soft quality that you can absorb yourself into.
Takehito Ichikawa is another new artist for us. His turned wooden pieces reflect both Eastern and Western influence, and are very original.
Inada Satoko, Flower 170 Forward, original painting, acrylic and oil pastel on board
Takehito Ichikaswa’s decorative wooden pieces
Visit: Two Persimmons
19 Bond Street, Above Taylor’s Tobacconists, Brighton, BN1 1RD
No. 12 on the Central trail
www.twopersimmons.com
www.instagram.com/two.persimmons/